Naperville Central basketball star Trinity Jones was at home on her lunch break when she got the news. Jones, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, is one of 24 girls chosen to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game. “I was really excited,” she said. “I saw my mom really excited, elated, jumping up and down, and so then I kind of did the same thing. “I’m just blessed and highly favored.” But not surprised. The Clemson-bound Jones, who is averaging 28.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.8 steals, 2.3 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Redhawks (21-5) this season, has been dreaming of this moment for a long time. “We talked before the season when she was a freshman, and one of her goals was to be a McDonald’s All-American, so this is a goal of hers that’s realized,” Naperville Central girls basketball coach Andy Nussbaum said. “It’s really special. You’re talking about 24 players in the United States. That’s just very special recognition. I’m so happy for her, and I’m proud of her.” On Monday, Jones became the second girl in program history and just the third from Naperville to earn McDonald’s All-American honors. Former WNBA star Candace Parker, who is Naperville Central’s career scoring leader, played in the 2004 McDonald’s All-American Game in Oklahoma City. Former Naperville North star Greta Kampschroeder, who played at Michigan and plays professionally in Germany, was selected for the 2021 game, which was not held due to the coronavirus pandemic. “It was something on my bucket list,” Jones said. “I’m very grateful I can scratch that off.” Naperville Central’s Trinity Jones (10) brings the ball up the court against Naperville North during a DuPage Valley Conference game in Naperville on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. (Troy Stolt / Naperville Sun) Jones, who will play for the West team, is the only player from Illinois, among both girls and boys, picked for the 2026 games, which will be played at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on March 31. “I watched quite a few of them, especially last year’s,” Jones said. “I knew a couple girls on the team. I know everybody this year. I’m really excited to get out there and showcase my skills and things that I’ve learned over the last few months.” Naperville Central senior guard Colette McInerney has known Jones since they were in kindergarten, when they first played together at the YMCA. “I think it’s awesome,” McInerney said. “Me and Trinity have played with each other since we were little, so to see her grow as a player and as a person has been really cool.” Nussbaum and the Redhawks anticipated Jones achieving McDonald’s All-American status. “They already had a pretty high opinion of what Trinity can do in basketball, so it’s sort of like, ‘Well, we knew that. She should be McDonald’s All-American,’” Nussbaum said. “That’s kind of my reaction. I think she’s very deserving.” Naperville Central's Trinity Jones (10) shoots from 3-point range over Waubonsie Valley's Maya Pereda (0) during a DuPage Valley Conference game in Naperville on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Sean King / Naperville Sun) Jones, who played for Bolingbrook as a sophomore and missed all but a few minutes of her junior season after suffering a torn ACL, still scored more than 1,000 career points in a Naperville Central uniform. Jones said her focus is on helping the Redhawks, who are ranked No. 6 in Class 4A in the poll by The Associated Press, prepare for the state playoffs and that her accolades have no bearing on that effort, although McInerney thinks the team might get a bump from the latest one. “It’s really cool that she’s gotten the All-American award, and other teams will view us and see that,” McInerney said. “It gives us a little bit of a boost to have her have that title. “This is such a great accomplishment, and she’s just so deserving.” What does Jones think of joining Parker and Kampschroeder on such a short list of Naperville greats? “It’s so cool,” Jones said. “I’ve put in the hard work. So have those girls, so have my teammates, so it’s cool to be able to be a part of that.” Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter. ...read more read less